Project Spotlights

Planting Seeds for a Sustainable Future

What do students in psychology, biosystems
engineering and graphic communications have in
common? A passion for sustainability. Their interest in
the environment brought them to LEAF (Leading for our
Environment and Future), a community located in Calhoun
Courts where residents learn about sustainable living and
environmental issues.

LEAF resident Devon Cornelius says the subject of
sustainability grew on him, and now he wants to spread
the word and get others involved. "People take the world
for granted," he said. "I want to motivate others to use
resources in an environmentally conscious way."

Inspired by documentaries on subjects like polluted water
in urban areas, the waste of electricity and apartment
complexes built right next to factories, Cornelius jumped
on the opportunity to join the LEAF community, where
he learns to live sustainably, recycle properly and
plant his own garden.

Together with seven other students, Cornelius,
who is a sophomore psychology major, learns
about principles of sustainability in weekly
classes taught by faculty members who share their
passion.

Victor Liao, who has lived in the LEAF
community for three semesters, says he
has learned to influence others to be more
sustainable. In order to do that, "we must
be willing to be more disciplined in our
sustainability in public as well as in private,"
said Liao, a senior in biosystems engineering. "If
an individual sees enough people do the right thing, like
putting recyclables in the proper receptacle, he or she will be
passively influenced to do the same."

Besides weekly classes, the LEAF community involves
participants in discussion-based meetings on environmental
issues, sustainable dinners, showings of relevant films and
field trips to places like a water treatment facility or the
Clemson Experimental Forest. Saahirah Goodwin's favorite
experience, however, is taking care of the community garden
at the LEAF residence. Goodwin, who is a junior in graphic
communication, loves planting the garden and watching the
crops grow every day.

"It makes us feel like a community, and it impresses people
when I show it to them," she said. "I'm excited to see how
well everything grows." With some help from the Botanical
Garden staff, the students have planted vegetables such as
chard, radish, carrots, bok choy, broccoli and spinach. The
watering and weeding responsibilities rotate among the
LEAF residents.

The LEAF Creative Inquiry project is directed by Jennifer
Goree, the director of Healthy Campus. She and a steering
committee of faculty members founded the program in the
fall of 2011. Goree says the team behind LEAF employs the
community "to study how we can use students to change
campus culture."

Students who participate in LEAF conduct their own
research and decide on group projects. Last year, the group
aimed to increase knowledge and awareness through social
media and the production of videos. "This way, students get
hands-on experiences with actually trying to see a project to
fruition," Goree said. "Some of the projects will bring much
greater, lasting and systemic changes to the University."

Such initiatives energize the participants and faculty
members. Goree thoroughly enjoys working with the faculty.
"They all are incredibly passionate about sustainability and
bringing about change, which is truly the goal of the whole
community," she said. "It's about innovation and it's about
change."

"The environmental challenges that we face necessitate
an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving," said
Dr. Catherine Mobley, professor of sociology. Professors
in civil and environmental engineering educate the team
about topics like life cycle assessment and quantifiable
issues regarding energy and water use, whereas Mobley
reminds students that the environment is also very much
a social issue. She addresses themes such as advocating
environmental action and social justice, pointing out that
the negative results of climate change often first hit the more
vulnerable populations in the world.

Cornelius understands that not everyone necessarily
gravitates toward the subject of sustainability. Because of
his background in psychology, he feels certain empathy for
people with different views. "That is why I don't want to
impose on people, but I hope that my method of doing
things will rub off on others," he said. "Don't be afraid to
try something new. It is a challenge to live sustainably, but it
is an improvement to you and the environment around you."

Students from all majors are welcome to join the
community. The only requirement is an interest in
sustainability.